Squeeze Chutes - Best Type

[YoungSproutFarms]

I have been researching "Squeeze Chutes" and it seems there are two types in use recommended for cattle with horns (Longhorns).

Powder River makes a standard squeeze chute with horizontal bars, allowing the horns to slide along until they get through the head gate. Looks really great, very pricey I understand. but maybe the best for our type of cattle.
http://www.powderriver.com/files/Mini_Catalogs/PR_Chutes&Headgates.pdf - down a bit on the page "Longhorn Squeeze Chute"


Medina Hinge is a gate style contraption that consist of two gates you squeeze the animal into. Alternatives of this style are of a cage that consist of two gates. The animal stands sideways between the gates with horns between the bars. This does allow for a wide alley.
http://www.grangercattleco.com/medinahinge.html - Medina Hinge Chute
http://www.thebunkhouse.org/  -  The Dube Chute
http://www.endoftrailranch.com/chutes.php - Longhorn Chute
http://www.work-your-cows.com/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=25 - Longhorn Cage
I am not sure how you keep from getting hurt if a cow decides to balk and pushes on the gate before you get it latched. I am not sure how you squeeze them in before you latch it or if they just stand there, not squeezed.

WW Cattle Livestock Systems is another company with it's own style. I believe it is a combination of the two above. Still using a head gate with a V shape entry, that the sides operate as the Medina hinge does and closes like two gates.
Not sure how you close the gates and they do not pop open.
http://www.horsesense.ws/lilflint/longhorn_chute.html

Please look at these types and give me your opinion. Please list other types or sites and your ideas.
I am looking into making a purchase and want to spend my money wisely.
Thanks,
Glenn

[KevinC]

Many choices...  I've worked small herds with just a head gate and a pipe inserted behind them to keep them from backing up.  Used this for deworming, vaccinations, and castrations.  I have to admit, having a squeeze chute to stabilize the animals would have been useful during castrations in particular and perhaps convenient for vaccinations.

As always, recommend reviewing Temple Grandin's thoughts on the subject (look at her handling facilities and see what they use).  The squeeze chute is the most expensive single part, but if your spending 80% of your time getting your cattle into it, you are not going to be happy.

Awhile back I wrote one of the companies that specialized in longhorn squeeze chutes - and they gently informed me that Highlands are NOT longhorns, and that normal chutes would work just fine with them.  You might want to ask the same question to the others - and provide them a head photo of a full grown Highland.

[YoungSproutFarms]

The "Dube Chute" people sent me an impressive DVD showing how it worked on a Texas Longhorn that had a 10 ft spread on his horns..... It worked great. Yes, I realize that Highland do not have the horn spread of a Texas Longhorn, but my highlands, only 3 years old are having trouble getting through the vets standard squeeze chute. So this Medina Hinge type chute works great it seems.

Thing is it looks like it could be built on the cheap. Buy two 8 ft heavy duty gates, hinge on opposite sides about 2 ft apart in a 8 ft wide run. I think I may try to build one.

[YoungSproutFarms]

Ok, found a squeeze chute made for "Highlands" this is their catalog, down on the page is a horizontal bar one for Highlands with a picture of a Highland bull in one. This one is cool and is made in Nebraska.

http://www.squeezecrush.com/downloads/Squeeze%20Crush%2012pp%20A5%20(Hi-Res).pdf

[KevinC]

Watched a video on the two-gate style chutes.  One thing that jumped out at me was that it took two people, and required the person on each side to be exposed to the cattle when putting them in and taking them out.

I'm thinking it would be a lot safer to have the classic chute design and will be looking for the Powder River unit.  BTW - this is the shute Kae and Bill Arrington in NC use.  Bill recommended finding a used one.

Kevin

[KevinC]

BTW - Found a dealer that had posted prices (http://www.wahlbergtexas.com/wiki/WTC/CattleWorkingEquipment):

Powder River Longhorn Sqeeze Chute:  $7696
Powder River XL Manual Chute (no automatic self-catch headgate which is not recommended for horned cattle): $4716
Priefert Model 04: $4419
Priefert Model 01 (Economy): $2599

Oh, a Priefert AI cage (which should protect the cattle person doing AI, Preg Checking, etc.) runs about $550

I haven't had any luck finding used PR Longhorn chutes.

Kevin

[YoungSproutFarms]

FYI - I have bought a "Powder River Value Chute" for $2343.50 (discounted price from retail)

I picked this one because it has openings and the "V" spreads open 35 inches and with a manual scissor style head gate, a highlander can walk right through it. It looks like it is build heavy enough, but it does say it is made for 1100 pounds or less for size of cows and that it is not made for bulls. The rep for PR said since Highlanders are so docile, it should be OK, and should work on my bulls too. So, yes, I may find it is not heavy enough, if so, I will use this on yearlings and buy a bigger one later. But looking at it, it just looks "Perfect" for our Highland Cattle.

After I use it, I will post a review on how it is doing. I also will post how it works in two years after my bulls are fully grown.

As for other brands:
Preifert - even though it was built a bit heavier, it had openings and spread only 25 inches wide and seems to be made for polled cattle only.
Dube Chute - was my second choice. I never got to see it in person. Price on it at the time of this writing was about $2450. My concern for it though was if I had a wild calf, I might have trouble closing the gate on the calf and get push-back before I could latch it. After cattle are trained to it, it would be a great choice. The DVD video he sends to you, it looks like it would work well.